IS YOUR WATER SAFE?

More and more people today are questioning the quality of their drinking water. "Nobody should just assume their water is safe. They should know for sure," says Joseph Cotruvo, Ph.D. The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Drinking Water is telling many what's been feared for years.

But how does one really know about the safety of their water? Potential contamination of the water supply is the greatest concern. Most contaminants fall into four categories:

1. Organic chemicals. These include pesticides, herbicides, and trihalomethanes, a

by-product of chlorination.

2. Inorganic chemicals. Included in this category are lead, copper, and nitrates.

3. Bacteria. This most common is colifotm

bacteria.

4. Radiological contamination. This includes radon, radium, and uranium.

For most people, taking steps to analyze their own water is the first procedure. Once some of the questions about the quality of the water are answered, steps necessary to improve it can be taken more logically.

The first question to ask is about the source of your water. For most people, this is either a public water system, or a well.

Individuals on public systems have the legal right to ask their water supplier for the results of past testing. They must also inform you of any problems, past or present, in meeting federal requirements for safety.

If your source of water comes from a well, you'll have to take the initiative to have the water tested yourself. At times, however, the health department may do some testing on its own, especially when there are local pollution problems. Deeper wells generally have less contamination than more shallow, often older, dug wells. Many problems come from water runoffs and chemical leaks, at times from far away.

Whether you drink public or well water, another potential source of contamination is your pipes. Copper pipes may pose two different problems: the copper mineral itself, and also the lead solder. Because lead is a serious health hazard, it was outlawed in 1986, al-though it is still used illegally in some new plumbing. This contaminant can be seen at the joints of your pipes as a dull gray sheen. A bright, shinny color means a silver-nickel-tin product was used, which is thought to be much safer. Lead solder is not used on plastic or galvanized piping. If in doubt, a test kit, available in many hardware stores, can also give you the answer.

Copper pipes can also leach the mineral into your drinking water. High copper occurs in areas where there is soft water, (some-times referred to as a low pH or high acidity). Although not as serious as lead, excess copper can be a health problem. Disturbances of mineral balance (zinc, iron, and manganese) are possible.

In older houses, usually built before 1930, the plumbing may actually contain lead. These soft, dull gray metal pipes are very dangerous, especially with soft or acidic water. Some cities, like Chicago and New York, have lead connector pipes. These are the sections that connect the city water supply with your home. The water department or city engineer should be able to tell you whether this is the case with your home.

Some homes, especially in the north-western U.S., have pipes (or tanks) made of galvanized steel. These metals can leach cadmium, and, like copper, may pose health dangers.

Corrosion of pipes can also cause excess contamination. This is typical on the Eastern seaboard of the U.S., where basements are often damp year round. The most common source of corrosion, however, is due to the grounding of your electrical system. This, too, is easy to inspect. As simple as this may be, electrical grounds should never be attached to your water pipes.

Hot water potentially can leach lead, and other contaminants, out of pipes which normally may not be a problem. If in doubt about lead in your water, use cold water for cooking.

Although the most accurate method of analyzing your water is through a lab, observing the stains in your sink may be a clue for some contaminants. The exception is lead, which won't render any discoloration. Copper, however, will produce a blue-green stain, and iron a brown streak.

Having your water tested by a competent laboratory will remove all the guess work regarding its safety. Samples should be taken from a frequently used tap, such as in the kitchen. A morning sample would generally have the highest levels of mineral contamination, as water sitting in the pipes all night tends to accumulate these substances. As stated above, other toxic chemicals can be part of an unhealthy contaminated water supply.

The health department may test your water without charge. However, if your area has never had a problem, they may not. If, on the other hand, other water sources in your area have been contaminated, or if several members of your household have symptoms which may relate to contaminated water (such as diarrhea, vomiting, or seemingly bizarre problems), the health department will most likely do a thorough testing. At the least, they can give you the names of reputable labs in your area where you can get your water tested for the various contaminants. These labs use EPA standards, and although some feel their ranges of normal are too conservative, at least you are assured of accurate testing. Don't take your own water samples. The lab should provide its own containers, as some samples need to be properly preserved.

Costs for these tests will vary. Some labs may charge anywhere from $5 for one test, and up to $250 for several dozen tests.

Certain levels of many contaminants are obviously not a good sign. You may wish to inform the health department as to the levels of those substances, especially since they may be coming from a septic or underground gas tank some distance away.

In some instances, such as high lead content, you may ask your doctor about testing the levels in your blood. This year the EPA will change the standard for this toxic metal from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb when testing home levels. But even at low levels, a long term build up in the body is always a possibility. Children are most susceptible to lead toxicity.

If you still have questions about your water, the EPA has a "Drinking Water Hot-line" in Washington, D.C. Its toll free number is 800-426-4791. They can provide you with a list of contaminants and their allow-able levels.

If you find contaminants in your water supply, there are several things you can do to remedy the problem. If the source can be changed, such as your septic or someone dumping toxic waste, this becomes the priority. In the instance when the source is within your home, or other circumstances which are difficult to change, a water filtering system can usually solve your problem. We will deal with this topic in our next edition.